bookpower Chapter 109: Dudu
Chapter 109: Dudu
The afternoon sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden light over the training grounds as Klaus, Alex, and Nicholas continued to swing their swords. They had been at it for hours, their movements fluid and methodical, blades cutting through the air with a rhythmic *swish* that echoed through the empty grounds. Sweat trickled down their brows, but their focus remained unbroken.
The three prodigies had drawn the attention of the other trainees, who had begun to gather around them, mesmerized by their persistence and skill. Soon, the entire group of trainees joined in, their swords moving in unison, trying to match the precision and grace of the trio. The sound of metal slicing through the air grew louder as more and more students tried to keep up with Klaus, Alex, and Nicholas. It was a rare sight—the prodigies and their peers, moving in perfect synchronization, bound by their shared determination to excel.
After a few more minutes, Rick, their instructor, interrupted the session. His booming voice cut through the sound of swinging swords, drawing everyone’s attention.
"Alright, that’s enough!" he shouted, stepping forward onto the training platform. "Gather around. It’s time to move on."
The trainees reluctantly sheathed their practice swords, wiping sweat from their foreheads as they gathered around Rick. Klaus remained seated on the ground, leaning against the wall of the training ground, his breaths steady but shallow. The black egg sat beside him, an ominous presence that seemed to draw as much attention as the prodigies themselves.
Rick’s eyes flicked to Klaus, his expression shifting to one of mild concern. He walked over and crouched beside him, examining both Klaus and the mysterious egg that lay by his side.
"You look tired," Rick said, narrowing his eyes. "Didn’t you sleep?"
Klaus shrugged, offering a soft smile. "Not much."
Rick’s gaze shifted to the black egg, his brow furrowing with curiosity. "That egg... it’s unusual. I’ve never seen a griffon egg like that before. The color—it’s almost unnatural."
A sharp CRACK reverberated through the training ground, and all eyes turned toward Klaus. The black egg, once smooth and impenetrable, was now covered in a web of cracks, glowing faintly as if something powerful was pushing against the shell from the inside.
Klaus’s gaze remained fixed on the egg, unbothered by the sudden attention. His blue eyes glowed with intensity, reflecting the cracks spreading across the surface of the egg. Another loud CRACK echoed, followed by another, and another. The egg seemed ready to burst apart at any moment.
Then, without warning, a dark light surged from the cracks, spiraling upward like a pillar of shadow. It shot into the sky, piercing through the afternoon light and turning the once-blue sky into a swirling mass of darkness. The air grew heavy, thick with an ominous energy that made the hair on the back of everyone’s neck stand on end.
"No way..." Rick whispered, his face paling as he stared at the spectacle unfolding before him. "Is that... a Dragon surge?"
Terror flashed across his features, and the trainees began to murmur nervously. A Dragon surge was a rare and dangerous phenomenon, often associated with creatures far more powerful than mere griffons. The dark energy radiating from Klaus’s egg seemed to warp the very air around it, casting long shadows across the training grounds.
The cracks in the egg grew wider, and the dark light intensified, swirling faster and faster until the egg was barely visible beneath the storm of shadows. Klaus remained calm, his hand still resting on the egg, his expression unreadable. He could feel something ancient stirring within the shell—something far more powerful than any griffon.
Finally, with one last CRACK, the egg shattered, and from within the darkness emerged a creature unlike anything the trainees had ever seen. Its eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intelligence, and its scales shimmered with a dark, iridescent light. This was no griffon. This was something far more ancient, far more dangerous.
As the dark light faded, the creature spread its wings, casting a massive shadow over the training grounds. The trainees stared in awe and fear, their excitement now replaced with dread.
Klaus rose to his feet, his hand still resting on the creature’s head, his gaze unwavering. He had no words to offer, no explanation for what had just happened. He simply stood there, calm and composed, as if the emergence of this dark being was exactly what he had expected all along.